Last week, we shared a rather unusual ad from Ryugin, an Okinawa-based bank whose approach to selling loans involves robots, doe-eyed anime girls and more pink hearts than you can shake a stick at. As it turns out, this same banking corporation has quite the eye for attention-grabbing ads, as we’ve just discovered an older TV spot from the same company, titled Children and Philosophy, which poses a series of mostly abstract questions to a group of elementary school kids.
Responding to questions about everything from love and war to what it means to be free, the kids’ answers are at once refreshing, thought-provoking, and painfully sweet, to the point that we’re starting to wonder if they’re the ones who ought to be in charge of the world. Full video after the jump.
Before we look at the video, let’s take a quick look at some of the questions the video’s makers put to their bright-eyed panel.
Some are fairly straightforward, but to young minds might prove tricky to answer accurately:
▼ “What are children?”
▼ “What are adults?”
▼ “What is money?”
Then there are some seriously abstract questions fired their way which even we might struggle to define:
▼ “Was is happiness?”
▼ “What does is mean to live?”
In many ways, though, we could almost skip the kids’ answers entirely and simply look at the expressions on their faces while they consider the questions. Compare, for example, the look on this little girl’s face when asked to describe war (top) with the one she wears when she talks about love (bottom):
If that doesn’t tell you something about what’s most important in life, I don’t know what will.
Here’s the video in full, complete with English subtitles. It’s OK if you get a little bit blurry-eyed towards the end. I totally didn’t, but you know…
For more videos in this series, along with the original Japanese-only version of the above video, check out Ryugin’s channel on YouTube.
Source/screenshots: YouTube – Ryuginkousiki
You can raise your own Pikachu from a furball with this adorable new plushie line from Japan
Starbucks Japan releases first-ever Hinamatsuri Girls’ Day Frappuccino
Japan Extreme Budget Travel! A trip from Tokyo to Izumo for just 30,000 yen [Part 2]
Development of Puyo Puyo puzzle game for use in nursing homes underway
Japan Extreme Budget Travel! A trip from Tokyo to Izumo for just 30,000 yen [Part 1]
13 Japanese teen boys caught peeping into girls’ hot spring bath during class trip
Foreign tourists in Japan will get free Shinkansen tickets to promote regional tourism
The best Japanese cosplayers from Day 3 of Winter Comiket 2019【Photos】
Manga artist raises question online about false perspective in Ghibli film My Neighbor Totoro
Jason calls off Friday the 13th activities due to coronavirus
Our reporter takes her 71-year-old mother to a visual kei concert for the first time
The 10 most annoying things foreign tourists do on Japanese trains, according to locals
Highest Starbucks in Japan set to open this spring in the Tokyo sky
Tokyo Skytree turns pink for the cherry blossom season
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s new “Cunte” contact lenses aren’t pronounced like you’re probably thinking they are
Shibuya Station’s Hachiko Gate and Yamanote Line stairway locations change next month
Yakuzen ramen restaurant in Tokyo is very different to a yakuza ramen restaurant
Starbucks Japan adds new sakura Frappuccino and cherry blossom drinks to the menu
Japan just had its first same-month foreign tourist decrease in four years
Burning through cash just to throw things away tops list of headaches when moving house in Japan
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Foreigners accounting for over 80 percent of off-course skiers needing rescue in Japan’s Hokkaido
Super-salty pizza sends six kids to the hospital in Japan, linguistics blamed
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura Frappuccino for cherry blossom season 2026
Take a trip to Japan’s Dododo Land, the most irritating place on Earth
Naruto and Converse team up for new line of shinobi sneakers[Photos]
Is China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting the lines at a popular Tokyo gyukatsu restaurant?
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says